Electric switch.



G. B. REISBAGH.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1910.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912,

G-USTAVE B. REISBACH, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

Application filed July 25, 1910. Serial No. 573,650.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAVE B. REISBACH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in electric switches and particularly to blow out devices therefor.

One object of my invention is to provide, in conjunction with an electric switch, a simple and eflicient device for utilizing the magnetic lines of force produced by the current traversing the switch for extinguishing or disrupting the arcs produced upon operation of the switch.

A further object of my invention is'to so arrange the blow out device that it may be bodily removed and replaced with ease and without in any wise disturbing the switch mechanism. 7

My invention also has various objects and advantages, which Wlll hereinafter be clearly and fully set forth.

For the purpose of more fully disclosing my invention, I shall describe the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which embodies my invention in one form. It should be understood, however, that my invention is not limited to the particular structure illustrated, but is susceptible of various modifications.

Figure 1 is a side ele ation of the device. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken-on line 22 Fig. 3 and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 Fig. 1.

The general structure of the switch, illustrated, is of conventional form and will therefore only be briefly described herein.

The various parts of the device are mounted upon an insulating base 1. The base 1 supports a magnet frame 2 having a downwardly extending lug 3' which has its lower end secured to the base 1 by any suitable means such as the bolt 4. The magnet frame 2 is also preferably secured to the base at other points, but the securing means i has not been illustrated as it does not form an essential part of my invention. Pivotally mounted, upon a stud 5, earned by the portion 3 of the magnet frame, is a switch arm 6 carrying a laminated brush 7 and a spring pressed pivoted extension 8, upon the free end of which is mounted an arcing contact 9. The pivoted extension 8 is electricallyconnected to the arm 6 by a suitable flexible conductor 10, while the contact brush and the arm 6 are electrically connected to binding post 11 by a suitable flexible conductor 12. The switch arm, as illustrated, is formed in sections suitably insulated as shown at 14. With this arrangement, the current carrying portion of the arm is insulated from the magnet frame. The contacts 7 and 9 of the movable switch arm are adapted'to engage stationary contacts 15 and 16 respectively. As illustrated, contact 15 merely comprises a flat plate secured to the insulating base by suitable means, such as a screw 17 and a bolt 18, the latter forming the second 'terminal of the switch. The plate 15 is provided with an upwardly projecting extension 19 slightly spaced from the base 1 and of suitable construction to receive and support the contact 16, which is in the form of a carbon block. The operating'means for the movable swit h member comprises a solenoid 20 mounted 1n the magnet frame and having a movable plunger 21 connected to a lever 22 pivoted to a lug 23 on the magnet frame. The lever 22 is connected to the switch arm 6 by means of a link 24. This arrangement, in effect, forms a toggle connection which, when the solenoid 20 is energized, is operated to move the switch member 6 into engagement with the stationary contacts. The arrangement of contacts is such that when the switch arm 6 is moved, the arcing contact 9 thereof will first engage the stationary carbon contact 16 and subsequently the laminated brush 7 will engage the stationary contact plate 15. The movable contacts leave their respective stationary contacts in a reverse order.

The structure of the blow out'device is as follows: The several parts of the blow out device are carried by a magnetic plate which is bent or formed into a substantially U shape, thereby providing a pair of parallel pole pieces 30 and a connecting portion 31. Secured to the inner side of each pole piece 30, as by means of rivets 32,- preferably-of insulating material, is an insulating plate 33 preferably of greater dimensions than the pole piece. The insulating plates may be formed of any suitable material. Asbestos boards may be used for this purpose. For holding the insulating plates and, consequently, the extremities of the po e pieces in spaced relation, I have interposed between the insulating plates, a spacing block 3 1, which may conveniently be held in place by a bolt 35. In addition, I have interposed between the upper and rear ends of ,the insulating plates, an obliquely disposed block 36, which may also be secured in place by any suitable means, such as bolts 37. The block 86 performs a twofold function First, it acts as a spacer for the insulating plates 33. Second, it forms a shield against which the are produced between the switch contact is blown, and, being obliquely disposed, forms a deflector for the arc. In view of the latter function performed by the block 36, I prefer to form the same of some substantially insulating material, such as soap stone, but, ofcourse, any other desired material may be employed therefor. It will thus be seen that the plates 33 and block 36 form an insulating chute or barrier, and that the blow out device is a substantially unitary structure which may be easily and conveniently handled, To mount this blow' out device in place on the switch, it is only necessary to insert the connecting portion 31 of the pole pieces between the carbon oo'ntact support and the insulating base 1, in which position theiarcing contacts of'the switch will be disposed between the pole pieces 30. The method of attachment thus afiorded enables the blow out device to be set in place and to be removed by a mere vertical movement thereof, without necessitating the operation of any locking or securing means.

With the arrangement of contacts, illustrated, it will be seen that when the arcing contacts are in engagement and the laminated brush 7 is out of engagement with the.

contact plate 15, the path of the current, through the switch, will be of a tortuous character. In other words, the arrangement of the arcing contact is such as to provide substantially half a turn between the pole pieces 30 of the blow out device. This concentrates the magnetic lines of force produced by the current traversing the switch to such an extent that the lines of force will traverse the plates forming the pole pieces of the blow out device and will produce a magnetic field, between the pole pieces, of such magnitude as to disrupt or extinguish any arc formed between the switch contacts. It will be seen that inasmuch as the pole pieces of the blow out device are formed of a single plate they will produce a path of low magnetic reluctance, thereby insuring a strong magnetic field between the pole pieces. Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an electric switch, in combination, a stationary contact and a cooperating movable contact, a magnetic plate supported and retained in place by one of said contacts and having substantially parallel extensions disposed on opposite sides of said contacts,

the current traversing said contacts inherently producing a magnetic field between said extensions, and an insulating chute or barrier arranged between and supported'by said extensions, said chute or barrier having an obliquely disposed arc deflector. I

2. In an electric switch, in combination, a stationary contact and a cooperating movable contact, a magnetic plate supported by one of said contacts and having substantially parallel extensions disposed on opposite sides of said contacts, the current traversing said contacts inherently producing a magnetic field between'said extensions, and an lnsulating chute or barrier arranged between and supported by said extensions, said chute or barrier having an obliquely disposed arc deflector, said magnetic plate and said chute or barrier being removable from.

the switch as an integral structure and being retained in place solely by its engagement with said stationary contact.

8. In an electric switch, in combination, a stationary contact and a cooperating movable contact, a magnetic plate supported by one of said contacts and having substantially parallel ,extensions disposed on opposite sides of said contacts, the current traversing said contacts inherently producing a magnetic field between said extensions, and an insulating chute or barrier arranged between and sup-ported by said extensions, said chute or barrier havingan obliquely disposed arc deflector, said magnetic plate and said chute or ba-rrier being adapted to be removed from the switch as an lntegral structure and to be retained in place solely by its engagement with said stationary contact, said magnetic plate having a sliding engagement with said contact.

4. In an electric switch, in combination,

vertically disposed cooperating switch contacts, a magnetic plate fitting between one portion, a magnetic plate fitting in the recessed portion of said stationary contact and supported by said contact, said ,'magnetic plate having substantially parallel extensions disposed on opposite sides of said cooperating contacts, the current traversing said contact inherently producing a magnetic field between said extensions to extinguish arcs drawn between said contacts, and insulating plates secured to the inner faces of said extensions to form an insulating tube or barrier.

6. In an electric switch, in combination, a supportin base, a stationary contact carried there 7 y, a cooperating movable contact, a magnetic plate arranged to slide between said stationary contact and said supporting base, said magnetic plate having substantially arallel extensions disposed on opposite si es' of said contacts, the current traversing said contacts inherently producing a magnetic field between said extensions and an insulating chute or barrier arranged between and supported by said extensions, said insulating chute or barrier having an 0bliquely disposed arc deflector.

7. In an electric switch, in combination, a supportin base, a stationary contact car? ried there y, a'cooperating movable contact,

a magnetic plate arranged to slide between said stationary contact and said supporting base, said contact forming a partial turn about said plate, said magnetic plate having substantially parallel extensions disposed on opposite sides of said contacts, the current traversing said contacts inherently producing a magnetic field between said extensions and an insulating chute or barrier arranged between and supported by said extensions, said insulating chute or barrier having an obliquely disposed arc deflector, the side walls of said insulating chuteor barrier being of greater dimensions than said exten- 810118.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAVE B. REISBACH. Witnesses:

FRANK I-I. HUBBARD, GEORGE HAYNES. 

